HEUe J^mSies’ Sflareil ifimSifiet '(Mill -Pictorinl fiome ilomimruon. 
{ram iarrtapmtbtnls* 
MAY-DAY IN CENTRAL IOWA. 
beautiful cousin of the Orchis, the Ladies’ Slipper. 
These are found, usually, among the hushes that 
i skirt the woods. In June, too, comes the pretty 
little wild Lily-of-the-Valley, and in July the white 
1st -—I’ve been a-Maying to-day, and have 
plucked my first wild flower—that is, the first in its 
native haunts. The dear little Hepatieas in my gar¬ 
den bloomed two weeks ago; and so, no doubt, did 
their kindred in a sheltered dell two miles away. 
But we have had a flurry of snow since then, and cold 
winds and rains. April repented, however, at last, and 
prepared a warm welcome for May and to-day I took 
a woodland path, saying to myself, “I know a bank 
where the wild flowers grow.” 
But I found no flowers when I 
reached my bank, where, some 
years, I have found them in the 
first week of April. I went on, 
and searched vainly for some dis¬ 
tance; but at length, in a cosy, 
sunny little nook, there they were. 
Snow-white Blood-root blossoms, 
pink tinted Dicentras, with their 
graceful, feathery leave , and del¬ 
icate little purple Anemones, fit 
harbingers of Flora’s lovely train. 
Half a mile further I would have 
found Spring Beauties, but had 
not time to-day. 
How like magic seems the coming 
of these little early flowers. With 
the first warm breath of Spring 
they are ready to come forth, so delicate, yet so hardy 
and brave; lovely and beautiful, but frail and perish¬ 
able. I was reminded to-day of the influence of im 
agination on our sensations and emotions. Last 
autumn, when I trod these forest aisles, the roar of 
the wind in the tree-tops sounded like a dirge to the 
departed summer. Those trees are bare and leafless 
yet; but the elm buds are swelling, the green grass 
springing. There is hope in the air, and to-day the 
voice of the wind sounded only a breezy, rollicking 
welcome to spring. 
Every one has heard of the beautiful “prairie gar- 
en. ” of the West. They are gay and beautiful 
ley md all praise at some seasons, but I think the 
choicest floral treasures of Iowa are found in the 
depths of her forests. 
In another week, if it continues warm, I shall look 
in the deepest woods for the pretty little early Orchis, 
with large deep-green leaves, like 
Lily-of-the-Valley, and twisted 
spike of delicate flowers, purple 
and white. In more open places 
there will be wealth of Violets, 
yellow and blue, and the white 
Erythronium, or Adder-tongue, a 
little smaller than the yellow, 
tinged a little with purple, and fra ¬ 
grant as the Tuberose. With 
these, also, will come a trio of blue 
flowers—the pretty early Phlox, 
the prettier Polemonium, with 
graceful fem-like leaves, and, most 
beautiful of all, the Mertensia, or 
Virginian Lungwort. This is a 
beautiful plant, with large, smooth leaves, and a 
graceful, slender stem, bearing aloft a cluster of del¬ 
icate bells of the most heavenly blue. 
The graceful Columbine belongs to May and, with 
the strawberries, will come the wild roses, and the 
search, for few of its kindred can out-rival it, with its 
stately stem, daik, glossy leaves, and its crown of 
nodding flowers, rich orange red, spotted with velvety 
brown. 
But I haven’t mentioned one of our shrubs and 
climbers. The white Thorn, and white Cornel, or 
Dog-wood, are most beautiful in flower and foliage. 
The Wahoo Shrub,-or Burning Bush, is an elegant 
shrub, with shining dark green leaves, and a wealth 
of scarlet and crimson berries. Among our beautiful 
climbers, are Honeysuckles, Bittersweet, Virgin’s 
Bower, with its 'beautiful clusters of white flowers and 
curious long-tailed seeds, and a species of Sarsaparilla, 
with smooth, glossy, ivy-shaped leaves, which covers 
old stumps and trees with its lux¬ 
uriant growth. 
Yes, there is wealth of beauty 
in our Western wilds, but in this 
region “the march of civilization,” 
that is, the tramp of constantly in¬ 
creasing herds of cattle and swine, 
is fast exterminating some of the 
most beautiful species. Within 
my own observation some have 
almost disappeared from localities 
where they were once abundant, 
and, unless preserved in gardens, I 
fear they will soon be almost ex¬ 
tinct. 
Mrs. F. E. Briggs. 
Beautiful Flowers Easily Cul¬ 
tivated.— 1 The following flowers are specially re¬ 
commended by the American Mural Home as very 
pretty and easily grown by any grower : 
Coreopsis tenuifolia. Yellow flowers are no great 
favorites of mine, still a clump of this plant is admis- 
sable and desirable, even for its very fine, pretty leaves, 
if one does not fancy its small, yellow blossoms. 
Dicentra spectabilis. This is, without doubt, the 
most beautiful herbaceous plant in cultivation. Its 
rosy colored flowers are produced in long graceful 
racemes and in great profusion. The roots are large 
and fleshy and somewhat tuberous, and will grow iu 
any rich soil. 
Funkia alba odora (White Day Lily). A very old 
plant, but nevertheless always desirable. Its long, 
pure white, fragrant flowers are not excelled even by 
the latest novelties among Japanese lilies. 
Lychnis Flos-cuculi, or Cuckoo 
Lychnis; also sometimes called 
Double Bagged Bobin, a beau¬ 
tiful old plant that does not appear 
to go out of fashion. 
Papaver orientale. This mag¬ 
nificent species of poppy is a na¬ 
tive of China. The flowers are 
six to eight inches in diameter, 
brilliant orange scarlet with a 
dark spot at the base of each 
petal. The roots are large, fleshy, 
and increase in size from year to 
year, forming large clumps. 
A Window Fountain and Aquarium. 
Campion, with delicately fringed petals. Time and 
space would fail me to describe all our wild-wood 
beauties; but I must mention one more; the 
“Turks’-cap Lily,” well named “The Superb.” 
It is not common, but well repays a long and diligent 
HEEDLESS PEOPLE—AN ACROSTIC. 
nr MRS. GEORGE R. LEE. 
Tact they lack, and lack of tact, 
A dozen charms may counteract: 
Conscious of this failing, I 
Tactless people ne’er decry. 
